Things to Do With Kids in Manhattan on March 11

Find free and low-cost things to do with kids in Manhattan today, March 11, including fun activities and events the whole family can enjoy. See what's going on today in Manhattan's museums, galleries, and libraries for some educational fun; in the parks, for outdoor and nature activities; and in the theaters, for children's concerts and performances. Plus, get details and directions on any street fairs or holiday festivals happening March 11. For even more free and low-cost upcoming events in Manhattan, check out our complete calendar of events.

Dance along to the NYC-based Shelton's latest collection of playful pop-rock tunes about real-life kid issues. Her award-winning second CD, "No Ordinary Day," includes her most requested songs, including "Goin' on a Road Trip," "Scooter Boy," and the title track.

In New York Classical Theatre's signature performance style, Panoramic Theatre, this unique production of Moliere's shorter comedies hearkens back to the 17th century playwright's roots in the Commedia dell'Arte. The characters of Playing Moliere, including cuckolded husbands, sneaky servants, demanding fathers, and quick-witted lovers, have inspired an entire generation of physical comedians such as Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton, and the Marx Brothers.

New York Theatre Ballet (NYTB) concludes its family-friendly Once Upon a Ballet series with the audience favorite, James Sutton's "Sleeping Beauty." The hour-long production is the ideal introduction to ballet for children ages 3-8.
Based on the original ballet by Marius Petipa, NYTB's "Sleeping Beauty" features an enchanting set by Gillian Bradshaw-Smith, alluring costumes by Sylvia Nolan (resident costume designer for the Metropolitan Opera), and is set to the classical music of Tchaikovsky. Set in a tiny and magical kingdom beneath the roots of a lush, giant tree, the ballet tells the story of Princess Aurora, the evil spell cast on her 16th birthday, and the gallant prince who breaks the curse with a kiss. A cast of 14 dancers brings to life one of the most beloved fairytales of all time.

The title an artist gives to a work of art can sometimes provide a clue to help us find out more about its meaning. See what ideas and stories you can imagine when looking at artworks and their titles together.
For families with children ages 5-10.
Registration required at 212-423-3587.

Based on the book by Eleanor Estes, this lively musical is a poetic tale that explores the power of imagination and the courage it takes to stand up for others, even when you are standing alone.
This timeless story follows Wanda Petronski, a young girl who speaks strangely, lives in the wrong part of town, and wears the same dress to school every day. While Wanda struggles to fit in and make friends at Franklin Elementary, Maddie, a fellow student, comes to understand that some of the worst bullies in the world throw no blows. "The Hundred Dresses" takes audiences on a colorful journey filled with buoyant music, zany characters, plenty of charm, humor, and - you guessed it - dresses.

Look at dazzling mosaics from many cultures to gather inspiration. Then, take an ordinary terra cotta pot and embellish it with stones, beads, and ceramic tiles. Add a precious seed to plant in your new precious pot. Free with grounds admission.

In this workshop, participants create their own block print, inspired by the plants and flowers in the Marco Polo Stufano Conservatory. Matthew Burcaw demonstrates block printing and assists participants in transferring their drawings onto rubber plates, then carving out and printing their blocks. Children ages 10 and older accompanied by an adult. Registration is recommended, online at www.wavehill.org, by calling 718-549-3200, ext. 305 or at the Perkins Visitor Center. Free with grounds admission.

Learn how works of art were created, including oil paintings, marble sculptures, and furniture. This event is held in conjunction with the opening of the New American Wing Galleries for Paintings, Sculpture, and Decorative Arts.

Silver Music (silvermusic.org) students, including cellists, violinists, and pianists ages 4-12, will perform the music of Bach, Beethoven, Suzuki, and more.
Show your ticket to one session and get a free ticket to the other (subject to availability).

Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind. This true-to-life musical tale about what happens when Daddy's in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong is based on the book "Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale," by Mo Willems.
Lyrics by Mo Willems, music by Michael Silversher, directed by MCT artistic director Bruce Merrill.
For more information about group rates and weekday school performances, visit mctny.org or call 212-226-4085.

An interactive, mommy-and-me class where toddlers ages 1-3 can learn and grow. Each week, a new theme is the center of the fun, which includes music, puppets, finger plays, felt board stories, and even some magic.

This exhibit includes works by artists such as Keith Haring, Swoon, Christo and Jeanne-Claude, Remed, Friedensreich Hundertwasser, Moondog, and Tranqui Yanqui. The exhibition explores the accessibility of the arts for the public; the ways in which public art is a product of and a contributor to the cultural fabric of communities big and small; as well as the positive impact of the arts on building and bettering society.

Off Broadway Family Theatre presents an adaptation of C.S. Lewis's beloved tale from the Chronicles of Narnia in which two actors play eight characters, both human and animal. Travel to Narnia through the old wardrobe with the four Pevensie children, and get swept into their journey to stand with the great lion Aslan against the evil White Witch.

Meet with other moms, babies, and a lactation specialist to discuss topics such as the emotional ups and downs of breastfeeding, what happens when your milk supply is weak, how to juggle breastfeeding and work, and whether and how to supplement.

The only thing the miller's youngest son inherits is a simple cat. But no ordinary cat is he. He can talk. He's witty. And he's got big plans! Soon the miller's son finds himself enjoying adventures, wealth and marriage to a beautiful princess.

To commemorate the tenth anniversary of 9/11, the New-York Historical Society presents this special exhibition, which includes a selection of several hundred photographs taken by professional and amateur photographers in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center (originally collected in the independent exhibition "here is new york: a democracy of photographs"), as well as letters written to policemen and firemen; objects that were placed in makeshift shrines around New York; images and texts from The New York Times "Portraits of Grief" series; photographs of the Tribute in Light; and drawings of the National September 11 Memorial. When the renovated and transformed New-York Historical Society opens fully to the public on November 11, 2011, "Remembering 9/11" will be joined by a permanent installation of photographs from "here is new york" in the Robert H. and Clarice Smith New York Gallery of American History. Approximately 1,500 photographs by 790 contributors will be on display, along with a large fragment of a fire truck destroyed during the 9/11 attack.

City Parks Foundation premieres a whimsical new theater piece for the Swedish Cottage Marionette Theatre based on the beloved nursery rhyme "Little Miss Muffet."
"Little Miss Muffet's Monster-Sitting Service" tells the story of Molly Muffet (the great-great-great-great granddaughter of the original Little Miss Muffet) and what happens when she ends up home alone while her parents leave for a high school reunion. Molly's grandfather is called in to babysit but gets stranded by a snowstorm in Alaska. As a last resort, he calls in an old family friend, Aloisius Albrecht Alviss Spider (Al for short), the original spider from the famed nursery rhyme. Molly and Al quickly become friends and hatch a plan to start a baby-sitting service for baby monsters while her parents are away.
As the night progresses and baby monsters get dropped off, Molly and Al receive news that the storm of the century is heading their way. Molly, Al, and the babies bunker down for what promises to be a long night filled with music, song, dance, and numerous surprises.

This year FAO Schwarz is celebrating its 150th Anniversary. Since founder Frederick August Otto Schwarz, a German immigrant, opened the doors to the toy emporium in 1862, FAO has been known for its one-of-a-kind products.
To pay homage to a number of the world's best-known toys and brands that have influenced generations of kids over the years, the company's flagship store will display a "Gallery of Historic Toys" through mid-April, providing visitors a glimpse into the retailer's storied history.
The gallery features vintage editions of 25 of the world's best known playthings, including the original Etch A Sketch and original Richard Steiff Bear, as well as FAO artifacts, such as a 1909 sales ledger and the friendly face of the FAO Schwarz Clock Tower that greeted millions of the store's guests from 1986-2004.
The gallery is located on the 2nd floor of the store and is available for viewing during regular store hours.

In 1831, a hoard of luxury goods - including more than 70 chess pieces and several other objects, all made of carved walrus ivory and dating from the 12th century - was unearthed on the Isle of Lewis off the west coast of Scotland. More than 30 of the life-sized chess pieces (thereafter known as the Lewis Chessmen), today arguably the most famous chess pieces in the world, will be on display in this exhibit, which takes the form of the endgame of a famous chess match. The fallen pieces, organized by type, are displayed in auxiliary cases along the edges of the room. The Lewis Chessmen are known in popular culture from their appearance in the film "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone."

Angelina and her friends are all aflutter because a special guest is coming to visit Camembert Academy. They will perform all types of dance, including hip-hop, modern dance, the Irish jig, and of course, ballet, for their famous visitor. Angelina is the most excited of all, but will she get the starring moment she hopes for? Based on the CG-animated series, Angelina Ballerina The Next Steps on PBS KIDS®.

Guest designer for this year's 10th Annual Orchid Show is Patrick Blanc, world-renowned French botanist and artist who will transform the Haupt Conservatory with his spectacular vertical walls of living foliate. Using thousands of orchids and companion planting as his palette, Blanc introduces towering spectacles of tropical life to the Conservatory. In an explosion of alluring design and fragrance, exotic plant walls rise high above, creating this season's not-to-be missed exhibition for garden lovers, orchid fans, and those desiring a one-day tropical retreat. Through April 22.

With over 25,000 species growing on six continents, orchids fascinate and touch the lives of people in every country and culture from the jungles of Brazil to vanilla farms in Mexico. This series of exciting presentations and demonstrations takes you on a journey around the world of orchids and shows you how to grow and care for them at home.

A new family show based on the StinkyKids characters, little ones who learn to make the right choices through their childhood mistakes and who live by the motto "Always be a leader of good."
The StinkyKids pro-social brand will appeal to parents for the values it represents and appeals to kids because the characters are real kids getting into real mischief.

The plant world comes alive in a big way at the Discovery Center this winter. Kids step inside the world of plants and create their own terrarium to bring home. They'll be inspired to create a rocky, mossy, or desert world in a jar by looking closely at a wide array of artistic and scientific terrariums, and while they're at it, they can use a microscope to take a closer look at some classic terrarium characters like moss, lichens, and rocks. The Discovery Center will feature an exhibition of detailed and whimsical terrariums made by Twig Terrarium. Through April 23.

This special interactive exhibit in celebration of Black History Month will feature a new wax likeness of Aretha Franklin (unveiling on February 2 at 10am).
The exhibit will also feature some of history's most influential African-American musicians and performers in a special setting, inviting guests to interact with and pose for photos with Billie Holiday; play the harmonica alongside a young Stevie Wonder; stand at the microphone with the "Godfather of Soul," James Brown, as be belts out a tune; and join "The First Lady of Song," Ella Fitzgerald, in a duet. Visitors can also browse biographical information and historical facts on each performer.

Winfred Rembert: Amazing Grace is the first major museum exhibition dedicated to this mid-career, self-taught artist. The exhibit shows the dramatic, biographical nature of Rembert's art as it documents the tumultuous moments of civil rights history. More than 50 original works that Rembert created from stretched, stained, and etched leather, historical photographs of his life, and a new documentary of his work, created by noted filmmaker Vivian Ducat, will be on view. In the galleries, traditional gospel music, pivotal for Rembert, will be heard in recordings, and Rembert will both sing gospel songs and discuss his experiences in the galleries on several dates. Rembert, a boy growing up in 1950s rural Georgia, did backbreaking labor in the cotton fields. As a young man, he barely escaped arrest during a 1960's civil rights march, and survived a near lynching. A prisoner serving an unjust seven-year sentence, he learned to make pattern and design on hand tooled leather by watching a fellow inmate create tooled leather wallets. Years later in colorful tableaux on tanned leather, Rembert conjured a world of incredible brutality and close personal ties existing in discomforting proximity. Amazing Grace's riveting themes include the Cotton Field series, where cotton balls snake relentlessly through rows where field hands toiled. Another theme explores the lighter side of Rembert's memories of small town Cuthbert, Georgia. He populates his canvases with the town's characters and scenes of a pool hall, jazz club, cafe, and church meetings. The exhibition is organized by the Hudson River Museum and curated by Bartholomew F. Bland. Through May 5.

Japan has enjoyed a long tradition of storytelling through paintings and illustrated books, which continues today in the popular art of manga (comic books for children and adults). Showcasing more than 90 vibrant works drawn from the New York Public Library and other local collections, as well as works from the Metropolitan's own holdings, this exhibit traces the rich history of illustrated narratives that thrived in the medieval and early modern periods of Japan. The focus of the exhibition is some 20 rare, illustrated handscrolls called emaki.

Budding artists (ages 2-4) will explore paint, crayons, oil pastels, collage materials, air-dry clay, and recycled sculpture in this process-oriented art class. Each class will feature a unique theme, such as NYC, Outerspace, Animals, or Opposites. This class introduces young artists to a structured class and helps strengthen their fine motor skills and ability to represent the world around them.
Preregistration required; email info@privatepicassos.com.

This exhibition offers a comprehensive examination of the work of the late John Chamberlain -- the first U.S retrospective since 1986. Comprising approximately 100 works, the exhibition examines the artist's development over a 60-year career, exploring the shifts in scale, materials, and techniques informed by the assemblage process that was central to his working method. The exhibition presents works from Chamberlain's earliest monochromatic iron sculptures and experiments in foam, Plexiglas, and paper, to his final large-scale foil pieces, which have never been shown in the United States.

Tumble down the rabbit hole with the wild, wacky, and whimsical cast of characters in this new one-hour musical by Michael Sgouros and Brenda Bell. Frolic with Alice as she dances her way through Lewis Carroll's legendary tale, meet the White Rabbit (if you can catch him!), and don't forget to bow to the Queen of Hearts (or she'll chop off your head!).
There is a pre-show arts workshop open to families an hour before each performance (included with ticket price).
Tickets can be purchased through theatremania.com or by calling 212-352-3101 or 866-811-4111. Tickets may also be purchased at the theater's box office, which opens at 11am daily.
For more information on the show, visit aliceinthevillage.com.

A selection of art work from the Neuberger Museum of Art will be on display at the 1285 Avenue of the Americas Art Gallery to celebrate fifty years of Latin American Arts.
The show includes work that dates from the 1960s to the present by some of the most renowned artists of the twentieth century, working inside and outside of their homelands, such as: Manuel Alvarez Bravo, Wifredo Lam, Roberto Matta, Jose Clemente Orozco and Rufino Tamayo, as well as contemporary artists including Julio Antonio, Leda Catunda, Carlos Cruz-Diez, Jose Luis Cuevas, Arturo Duclos, Florencio Gelabert, Betsabee Romero, Nicolas De Jesus, Carlos Garaicoa, Eduardo Mac Entyre, Arturo Mallmann, Maria Martinez-Canas, Marta Maria Perez Bravo, Jesus Rafael Soto, Gerardo Suter, and Eugenia Vargas.
Rather than being organized by chronology or geography, the exhibition is organized into nine distinct sections, both monographic and thematic, including a two-part section on kinetic art and its descendants. The exhibition is curated by Patrice Giasson, Associate Curator of Art of the Americas, and Annabel Rhodeen, a Neuberger Curatorial Fellow. It is sponsored by GALLERY 1285 Avenue of the Americas in partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle as a community-based public service.

The Jazz Standard Youth Orchestra (JSYO), which includes about 25 talented musicians between the ages of 11 and 18, burns through jazz classics while listeners enjoys Blue Smoke's brunch menu (lunch menu, kids menu, and full bar are also available). Jazz Standard donates $1 from each kid's menu item sold to Spoons Across America.

Pinkalicious can't stop eating pink cupcakes, despite warnings from her parents. Her pink indulgence lands her at the doctor's office with Pinkititis, an affliction that turns her pink from head to toe - a dream come true for this pink loving enthusiast. But when her hue goes too far, only Pinkalicious can figure out a way to get out of her predicament.

Objects appear out of thin air, the laws of physics are defied, and miracles are performed inches from spectators' faces in this magic show where the props onstage seem intent on surprising even the magician himself. Be prepared for striking visual magic, comedy and juggling, and loads of audience participation. For more information on the show: theamazingmax.com.

"Latin Roots: East Harlem," a multimedia public art exhibit, celebrates East Harlem's cultural and historical importance by honoring seven remarkable local heroes. The stories of the honorees are told by New York City public school students.
"Spirit of Community: Artists of East Harlem," a visual art exhibit reflects a vibrant and thriving landscape of art in El Barrio. With works by emerging and mid-career artists who make the neighborhood their home, the exhibit captures the sounds, colors, cadences, textures, and people of the East Harlem mosaic, celebrating its joys and its pathos.

This exhibit, which examines the detailed process of building model ships, consists of dozens of artifacts, including model ships, vintage toy ships, a variety of antique model kit boxes, a mock-up of a modeler's workbench showing the building of a model ship, and illustrations that demonstrate how models are constructed.
Among the highlights of the exhibit are large-scale models of the Battleship New Jersey, which served during WWII, the Korean War, and Vietnam and the USS Constitution, the oldest commissioned vessel afloat in the world.
A modeler's workbench offers a peek at the tools of the trade, while World War II nautical toys illustrate children's fascination with ships. From wartime cardboard models to ships in bottles, the exhibit highlights the dexterity, ingenuity, and artistry embodied in these popular collectors' items.

Adapted from the classic children's book series by Stan and Jan Berenstain, this open-ended Off-Broadway musical features everyone's favorite bear family in a live show, plus a free post-show dance party, face painting, and photos with the Berenstain Bears.

This exhibit launches visitors into the exciting future of space exploration as it boldly speculates on humanity's next steps in our solar system and beyond. The exhibition features a full-sized recreation of a lunar habitat, a model of an elevator reaching up into space, a walk-through diorama of the Martian surface, and challenging interactive simulations. See authentic equipment and models of historic spacecraft from select voyages in the past. Learn about robotic missions that are currently headed deeper into our own solar system and what they might reveal. And explore some possible missions of the future: mining the Moon, landing on and deflecting a potentially deadly asteroid, and even establishing colonies on Mars.

In this longest running Off-Broadway magic show, Sam Eaton explores mentalism, magic, perception, and deception, mixing extraordinary ability, humor, and audience participation to make for a different performance every time.

This groundbreaking exhibit will lead visitors through a series of New York City environments highlighted by city-centric scents, sounds, temperatures, and textures, all in complete darkness. Relying on blind and visually-impaired guides, exhibit goers will "see NYC" and visit many well known landmarks without the sense of sight while armed with an authentic walking cane. Imagine taking a rumbling subway to your favorite location or maneuvering the crossroads of the world in Times Square while not being able to see a thing. Rest assured, the sounds and the smells will all be there to greet you. But will that be enough to guide your safe passage? The experience will forever change your perception of what it means to be blind or have low vision.

This tour showcases more than 40 locations from some of the most famous places seen on screen, including sites from "Friends," "Blue Bloods," "Seinfeld," "Enchanted," "Spider-Man," "I Am Legend," "Men in Black," and "The Devil Wears Prada."

Nybelwyck Hall, a dollhouse representing Lilliputian life at its most luxurious, makes its appearance in Glenview, the Museum's 1897 river home. The 24-room, granite-and-mortar Glenview, and Nybelwyck, the 24-room dollhouse, share architectural features - a Great Hall and a double staircase that curves from the top floor down to the Hall. Nybelwyck's central facade is loosely based on the Hudson River estate, Staatsburg, the Ogden Mills House. The orange-and-green colors on its Victorian addition are reminiscent of Wilderstein, in Rhinebeck, the family home of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's personal secretary. Dollhouse enthusiast Mark O'Banks created Nybelwyck Hall over the course of a decade and looked to the wisdom of a ouija board to name his creation. The house is furnished with found objects in its 24 rooms, as well as rugs O'Banks designed. Among its 900 objects are minute musical instruments that play, doors with intricate locks that work, and a tiny dollhouse within the dollhouse's nursery.

During early childhood years, children develop at a faster pace than adults, and it is during this period of time that music education can impact a child's learning ability and development as the executive director of The Diller-Quaile School of Music in Manhattan shares.